Driving quality cancer care in Asia

Improving the quality and standards of patient-centred cancer care is a leading ambition shared by cities across the City Cancer Challenge (C/Can) network. The path to achieving this ambition is unique to each city, moulded by its existing capacities and local needs. However, two common needs have been identified by all C/Can cities as priority drivers of quality cancer care: (1) the participation of multidisciplinary teams (MDTs) and (2) the development of resource-appropriate guidelines for priority cancers.

Virtual discussions will improve understanding of the key regional barriers to, and enablers of, a strengthened multidisciplinary approach to cancer care; identify key recommendations to both address local barriers and unlock opportunities to strengthen participation of MDTs; ensure cancer care providers officially establish and implement an MDT approach; and establish learnings that can be immediately applied by adapting guidelines for the management of two priority cancers, breast and cervical, to the resource level in each city.

Guided by leading regional and international experts, a series of three live, virtual discussions has brought together healthcare professionals across Asia. This discussion series has focused on helping healthcare professionals introduce and strengthen a multidisciplinary approach, as well as standardise the management and care of breast and cervical cancer patients across Asia.
The series is jointly hosted by the Asian National Cancer Centers Alliance (ANCCA), C/Can, National Cancer Center Japan and the Tata Memorial Hospital in Mumbai, India. Each discussion aims to foster collaboration and secure the participation of healthcare professionals providing cancer care across Asia, including pathologists, radiologists, nuclear medicine physicians, surgeons, gynae-oncologists, medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, palliative care physicians, clinical pharmacists and nurses.